Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.Image: keystone
March 30, 2026, 9:04 p.mMarch 30, 2026, 9:04 p.m
The Knesset, as the Israeli parliament is also known, passed a law on Monday that would allow the death penalty for terrorists. With 62 out of 120 votes, the majority was narrow but sufficient. The law passed the crucial so-called third reading. This means it can now finally come into force.
This move was driven primarily by the right-wing extremist and religious-nationalist parties within the government coalition, particularly the wing around Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. «This is a day of justice for the victims and a day of deterrence for our enemies. Stop the revolving door policy for terrorists, instead make a clear decision. Anyone who chooses terrorism chooses death,” said the right-wing extremist politician, according to the Israeli online newspaper Times of Israel.
Concern about unequal treatment
The legal center of the Arab minority in Israel Adalah criticizes the current practice. The definition of “terrorism” in the Israeli legal system applies almost exclusively to Palestinians. There is concern about unequal treatment: Jewish Israelis who commit violence against Palestinians often do not fall under the harsh terror laws. Instead, they will be judged according to general criminal law. There is no death penalty there. UN experts already called for the bill to be repealed in February.
The decision is a massive break with previous Israeli judicial practice. Israel abolished the death penalty for “ordinary” crimes in the 1950s. It only remained in place for extremely rare exceptions, such as genocide or crimes against humanity. In the entire history of the State of Israel, the death penalty has only been carried out once: 1962 to Adolf Eichmannone of the main organizers of the Holocaust.